‘SSGC taking steps to curb UFG levels’

KARACHI - Sui Southern Gas Company has taken a major stride forward in curbing Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) levels despite adverse conditions prevailing in its operational areas of Sindh and Balochistan. According to the statement, SSGC has succeeded in reducing UFG from 8.68% in 2011-12 to 6.88% in 2012-13. Even though the SSGC management has channelized its energies in reducing UFG on war footing, some elements have launched a smear campaign to discredit the SSGC managing director and the company management through baseless allegations. However, the SSGC management, with full support from the Board of Directors, has remained focused in controlling this menace to put the company back on the road to profitability. In order to reverse the UFG trend, SSGC has been pursuing an ambitious program of segregating its distribution network into manageable units to ensure greater efficiency, transparency in operational activities and accountability.SSGC has been regularly conducting raids with FIA in colonies where non-consumers found using gas in bulk had their illegal connections disconnected. For reducing UFG, the company has also been engaged in meter change activity to replace meters found defective or passing unregistered gas (PUG). In 2012-13, the company was able to claim a PUG volume of 8,827 mmcfd (through a survey of 159,573 customers) against a volume recovery of 6,164 mmcfd (through a survey of 71,908 customers) in 2011-12.